Marianopolis College

Liberal
Arts

Professor Veronica Ponce

Program Coordinator

Admissions office
admissions@marianopolis.edu

How may we help you today?

Looking to the past to understand the present and shape the future

Liberal Arts, also known as Histoire et civilisation, is a two-year pre-university program in which you explore the history of western civilization, informed by Indigenous and non-western perspectives. Through the lens of history, philosophy, literature, and religious studies, you will develop a chronological understanding of the ideas and events that have fashioned our world, expanding your horizons towards a vast array of university studies and career pathways.

  • WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR?

    The Liberal Arts program is designed for curious intellectuals who seek to challenge preconceived notions, explore life’s big questions, and grapple with complex ideas. An ideal program for avid readers, prolific writers and keen debaters, Liberal Arts balances personal creativity with rigorous analysis.

  • WHERE DOES IT LEAD?

    The Liberal Arts program provides a solid academic base for univeristy studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences, which opens avenues to many different career choices including law, civil service, media and the non-profit sector.

    • Anthropology
    • Art History
    • Classical Studies
    • Cinema
    • Communication Studies
    • Fine Arts
    • Geography
    • History
    • International Studies
    • Journalism
    • Law
    • Literature, Languages
    • Mathematics
    • Museology
    • Philosophy
    • Political Science
    • Psychology
    • Religious Studies
    • Research
    • Sociology
    • Teaching, Education
    • Theatre, Performance
    • Translation Studies
  • WHAT ARE THE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS?

    • Quebec Diploma of Secondary Studies (Diplôme d’études secondaire) or its equivalent
    • English and French proficiency tests (in certain circumstances)
    • Overall minimum grade average of 80%
    • Letter of intent

    For more information, consult the complete list of entrance requirements to Marianopolis College.

Semester Snapshots

Here is a look at the courses you will take, depending on whether your hold a certificate of eligibility for English-language education in Quebec. For more information about the certificate of eligibility, consult our FAQs.

  • Semester 1

    Methodology in the Liberal Arts
    Ancient World: Graeco-Roman Civilization
    Ancient Philosophy
    Judaism, Christianity, Islam
    English: Classical Literature
    French Second Language
    Physical Education

  • Semester 2

    Medieval and Renaissance Art
    Post Classical History I: Feudalism to Modernity
    Math, Logic and Critical Thinking
    Choose 1 Elective or Calculus
    English: Survey of Literature to 1800
    French Second Language
    Humanities: Medieval Knowledge
    Physical Education

  • Semester 3

    Post-Classical History II: 19th and 20th Centuries
    Modern Philosophy
    Science: History and Method
    Choose 1 Elective
    Choose 1 Elective or French Second Language
    English: Survey of Literature since 1800
    Humanities: 19th Century Thinkers

  • Semester 4

    Integrative Project
    Special Topics in Liberal Arts
    Choose 1 Elective
    Choose 2 Electives or 2 French Second Language
    English: Modernism and Critical Theory
    Humanities: Just and Unjust Wars
    Physical Education

  • Semester 1

    Methodology in the Liberal Arts
    Ancient World: Graeco-Roman Civilization
    Ancient Philosophy: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle
    Judaism, Christianity, Islam: Sacred Books, Human Histories
    English Classical Literature
    French Literature
    Physical Education

  • Semester 2

    Medieval and Renaissance Art
    Post Classical History I: Feudalism to Modernity
    Math, Logic and Critical Thinking
    Choose 1 Elective or Calculus
    English Survey of Literature to 1800
    French Literature
    Humanities: Medieval Knowledge
    Physical Education

  • Semester 3

    Post-Classical History II: 19th and 20th Centuries
    Modern Philosophy: From Descartes to Nietzsche
    Science: History and Method
    Choose 1 Elective
    English Survey of Literature since 1800
    French Literature
    Humanities: 19th Century Thinkers

  • Semester 4

    Integrative Project
    Special Topics in Liberal Arts
    Choose 3 Electives
    English Modernism and Critical Theory
    Humanities: Just and Unjust Wars
    Physical Education

Electives: Art History, Cinema, Economics, Film, Fine Arts, Human Biology, Mathematics and Statistics, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, Spanish. Students with a certificate of eligibility who are placed in French level 100 or 101 will have three of their Electives replaced by French Second Language courses.

 

Program Highlights

INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
The Marianopolis Liberal Arts program structures semesters in chronological order – from Ancient world to Medieval, Modern and Contemporary. This way, you make easy connections between the different ways of examining the rich and exciting history of civilization. You will graduate with a deep understanding of the events and ideas that have shaped our world, able to use important skills such as analysis, critical thinking and research, and ready for a broad range of fields in university.

FLEXIBLE AND DIVERSE
In addition to core courses, you have the opportunity to select seven electives from a wide offering in Social Sciences, Fine Arts, Communications and Math, giving your access to university programs with Math prerequisites. You will also get to explore issues from diverse perspectives, including those that question Western cultural and political orthodoxies.

CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY
Our Liberal Arts faculty members have two goals: to mentor you to become the best university candidate possible and to share with you their love of knowledge for its own sake. Small class sizes make room for animated discussion and create a stimulating learning environment. You also get to partake in many extracurricular activities that make the Marianopolis experience so enriching and memorable: trips to museums, architectural tours, seminars with visiting professors, annual arts festival, connecting with our amazing graduates, and much more.

News

Liberal Arts Program Holds Welcome Event for New Students

New and returning “Libbies” had the chance to share food, take part in team building games and get to know each other in a convivial atmosphere.

Read more

Liberal Arts Professor Celebrates Launch of New Book with College Community

Professor Vanessa Sasson’s latest historical novel “The Gathering” brings Marianopolis faculty, students and alumni together.

Read more

“Liberal Arts is a small program, and with that came many benefits, including growing pretty close to my classmates and professors in the program. It was comforting to know there would almost always be someone alongside me to compare notes and help with assignments. The support system really helped me achieve my potential and pushed me to succeed.”

Michelle A.
Class of 2023, Liberal Arts

Notable Alumni

Eric Boodman '11

Journalist, STAT News, Boston Globe Media

Julia Deutsch '10

Counsel, Trade Law Bureau of Global Affairs Canada

Brandon Silver '13

Director of Policy and Projects, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights

Professor Veronica Ponce

Program Coordinator